THE AGENT OF DISRUPTION
Raiola’s meddling sees Pogba issue wreck Euro plans
FROM the moment Mino Raiola opened his mouth, and a few old wounds, it was always going to be like this. The biggest match of Manchester United’s season kicking off under another dark cloud created by Paul Pogba and his verbally incontinent agent.
Pogba was on the bench again at the RB Arena in Leipzig but here he was, front and centre of the discussion.
Maybe that’s exactly what Raiola had in mind when he gave an interview before a crucial Champions League group decider and the Manchester derby declaring that Pogba’s time at Old Trafford is up — even though his contract most certainly is not.
The timing was horrible. It overshadowed the build-up to a game United couldn’t afford to lose, and guaranteed that two of the four questions put to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before kick- off were about one of his 12 substitutes.
What effect had Raiola’s comments had on United’s team selection? ‘Nothing,’ was the terse — and probably rehearsed — reply from Solskjaer.
‘My decision is obviously tactical, that’s the only thing. We made the team decision way before this game because we decided on Scott ( McTominay) and Nemanja (Matic) in midfield before we played West Ham. It’s a team selection.’
In the BT Sport studio, the reaction was rather more animated, sparking probably the most heated debate between Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes since they shared a dressing-room together at Old Trafford.
Voices were raised and fingers were pointed as they talked over one another.
‘Paul Pogba is the problem,’ said Scholes. ‘He pays this man to represent him and he represents him badly because Paul is a good lad.
‘Everyone from the outside will think he is trouble in the dressingroom. He isn’t. Paul has two options: tells him to shut up or sack him.’
Ferdinand described the timing as ‘disgusting’ but had a different view.
‘I’m going to shift the focus more to Manchester United, to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward,’ he said.
‘How are you allowing an agent to come in and talk like this? This isn’t the first time Raiola has spoken about a player.
‘I was at United when n Wayne Rooney was talking about leaving. Sir Alex Ferguson straight away went, “Listen, he’s being badly advised by his agent, , this won’t happen again” ” and nipped it in the bud. A couple of days later Rooney y signed a new contract.’
It was left to Owen Hargreaves to cut to the heart of the matter.
‘One of the biggest games s for Manchester United in a long time and we’re talking g about an agent,’ he said.
‘The only person who is s getting anything out of this is transaction is him. United d don’t have the Pogba they anticipated, and Pogba’s stock is not at the level as it was when they paid £89million for him.’
Did it really have a bearing on the game? Probably not. United haven’t needed any excuses to start badly of late, and starts don’t come much worse than this one.
Two goals down inside 13 minutes, it could h have b been even w worse but fo for Emil Forsberg’s miss and Willi Orban’s effort being ruled out for offside.
Solskjaer had said his players would stand up to be counted on the big occasion, but they were in danger of collapsing completely against a team they thrashed 5-0 at Old Trafford 41 just days earlier. Pogba was sent out to warm-up before half-time but it was Donny van de Beek who went on for the second half in place of Alex Telles as Solskjaer abandoned his back-three.
It worked well in Paris in October but cost United last night as Angelino and Amadou Haidara both appeared unmarked at the back post to beat David de Gea.
It was the hour mark before Solskjaer turned to Pogba and sent on the Frenchman for Matic. United were even further behind within 10 minutes before Bruno Fernandes pulled one back with a penalty. Pogba looked like a man with a point to prove. It was his excellent first-time pass that led to Van de Beek winning a corner eight minutes from time.
When the Dutchman swung the ball over, Pogba wanted it more than anyone else as he rose at the far post. His header clipped Harry Maguire and Ibrahima Konate on its way past Peter Gulacsi, with the United skipper claiming credit for the goal.
At least Pogba had provided something positive for United after another turbulent 24 hours in his Old Trafford career.